Posts filed under ‘Writing’

An unabashed flaunt of my own self on the cover of a book. Now isn’t that precious? Seriously, this would make a great father’s day gift – hint hint – for dads out there (and I do love my own Dad Peep). And it’s in hardcover, which isn’t available at Amazon or anywhere else.

Have you ever written a book review on Amazon? Did you know you can, even if you didn’t buy the book on their site? Or maybe you get those emails that say…please rate your purchase of….blank, blank?

It’s kind of like this:

You tasted something. You liked it (hopefully), and now you want to tell the seller what you think about it. If this little girlie (Mom Peep’s Aubree) was asked, I think she’d say YUM!

You could say YUM on your book reviews too, or maybe not. Most reviews of books say something about:

♥ the content of the book (helpful, enlightening, entertaining?)
♥ the author’s writing (riveting, engaging, conversational?)
♥ what it did for you (moved you, educated you, touched you?)

Feel free to add other thoughts, like whether you’d recommend the book to others. Some reviews are a few sentences and some are two or three paragraphs. Write what you feel called to write.

Mom Peep says it’s best to look for the good in something…and there is always good in something, don’t you think? Like in me. Just yesterday I was sitting calmly on the arm of the recliner when I felt the need to jump off and start spinning and snapping at my tail. Sends my Peeps into a tizzy. But when asked about me, they talk about what a wonderful dog I am and then mention that I’m still working on “issues.” Aren’t they the greatest?

So that’s a few ideas on writing a review of a book you read. Is it important to do? You betcha. Why? Cause the writers of books rely heavily on reviews to help other readers know how you liked it. Maybe you can write one the next time you read a book?

As for me, I just finished a package of Happy Hips Jerky Treats. My review: YUM!

P.S. Mom Peep wants to say thank you to her Taylor’s Tips Newsletter subscribers who are reading this a second time. Mom knows that some folks don’t read Facebook posts, or do Twittering, but they get emails. And the other way around. So thank you for allowing her to send it different ways. ; o )

Northwest Christian Writers Association

B.J. Taylor’s Writing Is Going to the Dogs

Award-winning author B.J. Taylor has loved writing most of her life. In grade school, English was her favorite subject, and spelling bees were her specialty. As a teen, she kept a personal journal and hid it under her mattress.

Now a multi-published author, she’s even written novels in a genre she calls “dog-lit.” She tells people to think of it like chick-lit, except the stories are for dog lovers. This genre is a natural blending of B.J.’s passion for writing and her passion for helping dogs to find forever homes. Her desire is to promote the spirit of keeping one’s canine pets, not only during the good times, but also in challenging circumstances.

“Many times we have to PUT certain things into practice in order to keep our cool under pressure when we rescue a dog or bring home a dog from a shelter,” she says. “They all need the same thing: Patience, Understanding, and Training.”

B.J. also knows a thing or two about patience, understanding, and training as a writer. And she uses those qualities when turning personal experiences into stories that sell. She serves as representative for Guideposts, Angels on Earth, and Mysterious Ways magazines.

On Friday, May 15, at the 2015 Northwest Christian Writers Renewal, B.J. will meet with writers in group appointments. If you would like to show her your work, please follow the guidelines concerning what she would like to see and what she’s not looking at right now.

At the Renewal, B.J. will also present two workshops:

1) Writing for the Guideposts Contest: Learn how to craft a well-constructed Guideposts story, how to properly submit, whom to submit to, what to include, and when to send it in. Two of the twelve writers chosen to attend the 2014 Guideposts Writers Workshop were in B.J.’s class at a writers conference and learned her tips and tricks. The next contest year is 2016, and there will be thousands of entries. Don’t miss out on the knowledge, experience, and secrets B.J. will share as the winner of her own coveted spot in the 2004 Guideposts Writers Workshop.

2) Making $$$ Selling Personal Experience Short Stories: Want to know the formula for writing inspirational stories that sell? B.J. Taylor’s writing has appeared in many publications. Numerous writers have learned B.J.’s secret formula, submitted to Chicken Soup and Guideposts, and are now published authors too. Would you like to make money in your writing career? Then come to this workshop.

B.J. has been published more than forty times in Chicken Soup for the Soul as well as in Guideposts, Angels on Earth, John Gray’s Mars and Venus in Love, Writer’s Digest, Romantic Homes, Victorian Homes, and many other publications. Her latest book is Charlie Bear: What a Headstrong Rescue Dog Taught Me about Life, Love, and Second Chances. B.J. also compiled her own stories, plus the riveting stories of others, into Sunny Side Up: Inspirational Stories for Tough Times/Women/Dog & Cat Lovers. In addition, B.J. has authored a resource for writers, The Complete Guide to Writers Groups That Work.

Whether you want to find out more about writing inspirational stories, dog-lit, winning the Guideposts contest, or any number of other topics, you can learn a lot from B.J. Sign up today for the Northwest Christian Writers Renewal.

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Diana Savage, a graduate of Northwest University and Bakke Graduate University, sold her first article when she was still in college, and she’s been writing ever since. Now the principal at Savage Creative Services, LLC, she is also director of the Northwest Christian Writers Renewal conference. Her latest book is 52 Heart Lifters for Difficult Times.

Charlie Bear here again to say THANK YOU to Diana Savage for her lovely blog post on Mom Peep. Mom Peep has a surprise in store for the people at the conference. Shhh…I don’t want to give it away.

Charlie Bear here with a monthly newsletter from Mom Peep (I have to let her have her say once in a while…I guess). Anyway, even if you’re not a writer, you might get something out of it. Here it goes…

TAYLOR’S TIPS for a more productive you…

Dear Friend,

Do you ever wish you could have things done RIGHT NOW!? As in yesterday, last week, a month ago?

My new book P MS to a T: the winning formula for writing nonfiction short stories that sell is ALMOST ready. But the background color for the cover is still being decided upon so it’s not quite done.

The new domain name for my website (www.bjtaylor.com) and the refreshed website are under construction.

I know they’ll get done. The outcome will be terrific and all will be well, but right now, I’m eager and a little frustrated. Ever feel that way?

Okay, nothing I can do about it today, so I’m going to tell you something you can do right now. You can decide to invest in your writing career by attending a wonderful conference. I’ve said this before, but this is my Springtime Conference Push to help you to choose. If you can afford it at all (check out the websites for scholarship opportunities), pick one of these and be there. You owe it to yourself to invest in learning your craft to be more successful. And you can attend my classes and learn how to MAKE MONEY — sell one story to Chicken Soup for the Soul and you’ve paid yourself back for the conference fee!

Here are the two I highly recommend. One is in April, one is in May.

In April in Southern California you’ll find the Orange County Christian Writers Conference. www.occwf.org/conference Check out what’s being offered:

Fiction and Nonfiction

Magazine & Blog Writing

Childrens & YA Writing

Drama & Comedy

Working with Agents

Publishing & Marketing

New Sessions, New Faculty

Dine with Faculty

One-on-one Consultations

All of that for one low fee? Unbelievable. The dates are Friday April 24 and Saturday April 25. I’m leading two workshops: Make $$$ Selling True, Inspirational Short Stories, and GPS for Writers: How to Get Where You Want to Go. Will I see you there? Shoot me an email to bj.taylor@verizon.net or reply on FB and let me know so we can hug and say “HELLO!”

* * * * * *

In May in Redmond, Washington (just outside of Seattle) you’ll find the Northwest Christian Writers Renewal. www.nwchristianwriters.org/renewal Check out what’s being offered:

21 Workshop Sessions

16 Workshop Presenters

Appointments with Editors and Literary Agents

2 Keynote Addresses by Angela Hunt

NEW this year: Personalized WriteCoach Labs

Manuscript Critiques

Reality Panel of Experts

A Newly Expanded Vendor Avenue

Dessert Reception with Angela Hunt

Book-Signing Party for Authors in Attendance

Valuable Prizes Awarded Throughout the Conference

All for one low fee? Again, unbelievable. The dates are Friday May 15 and Saturday May 16. I’m doing group editorial appointments for writers and leading two workshops: Writing for the Guideposts Contest, and Make $$$ Selling Personal Experience Short Stories. I hope to see you there. Shoot me an email bj.taylor@verizon.net so I can look for you and we can hug and say “I know you from online!”

* * * * * *

If you are not a writer, what are you passionate about? What would you like to achieve this spring that will springboard you into your own personal success?

Hugs and love, and blessings on your work.

Follow your dreams…B.J.

What’s Going On:

P MS to a T: the winning formula for writing nonfiction short stories that sell We’re fixing a few quirky errors in the manuscript before we turn it loose on Amazon for print. My wonderfully talented team from www.GeniusBookServices.com is doing the revisions. This is the original cover I went with, but I’m considering a different background color. Any comments or suggestions?

What Writers Say About the Formula:

“This formula worked so well for me that I was able to use it to write a story that was accepted by Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hope and Miracles.” – Judee

But I like routine. I get up, stretch my lean (kind of) body from tippy toes to tail, waggle to the back door, go outside, then I sit nice and quiet until Mom Peep feeds me. Then onto Dad Peep’s lap for some petting. They go to work and I lounge around the house, mostly sleeping, until they get home and we play a little. Mom Peep takes me for a long walk around the block and then inside for more Dad Peep time.

After dinner, I snuggle again and then off to bed at 8:00. The next morning I get up and do it all over again.

How about you? Do you like routine too, or is it time to change things up?

Maybe you could take a different route to work and see something new, or try a different grocery store and discover the prices are lower, or they have a larger variety of products like cranberry juice that you could drink instead of orange. Mom Peep has cut out bread. She misses her morning toast, but knows it helps her get back on track with her weight. And Dad Peep is taking his lunch to work and would like cookies or cake, but Mom says apples and fruit.

Maybe you always submit stories to the same place. You’re comfortable with that and let other markets slide by. Too hard to learn new rules of submitting? Too scary to break out of your comfort zone? What if it could be a fantastic new opportunity for you and you never even gave it a thought?

Mom Peep is opening her mind to revising and reshaping her three-book fiction series to become more marketable. People like it, but no one has made an offer. Her agent is trying, but nothing yet. Do you have a novel or nonfiction book you have been trying to sell for years? Is it time to throw the pages up in the air and see what settles as good, solid, sellable material?

As a dog who loves routine, I’m not saying give up everything that makes you feel comfortable, but how about tossing in an extra bone or two (or three or four) of different ways of doing things? That might make things interesting. And who knows, that could be just what you need to go down a different path that brings you to a shimmering, star-studded destination.

More power to change, I say! Share with us ways you have mixed up your routine.

Charlie Bear here with a Newsletter from Mom Peep B.J. Taylor. I hope you like it.

TAYLOR’S TIPS for a more productive you…

Dear Friend,

Christmas is more than two months behind us. Spring is about two months ahead. (Let’s hope it’s less, right Northeasterners?) Summer is right after that.

So what does that make NOW?

PRIME TIME to get things done. Do you have goals? Something in your brain that’s niggling at you? A writing opportunity / deadline that beckons? A story you want to write? A book you want to work on?

What’s stopping you?

The biggest stop sign is the one you place in front of yourself. The cure is to:

How about these strategies:

Cram writing in between the tight spots, working on a project for half an hour when the house is quiet or getting up early to put in a little writing time.

Grab fear by the tail and send it swinging, giving in to the knowledge that yes, there are lots of things that are frightening, but you’d rather be afraid of revising and making it better than not having started at all.

Percolate on your project all the time: when you are washing dishes, making the bed, stuffing laundry into the machine, folding fresh clothes, driving to work (but be attentive—daydream only at stop lights), and even when with your spouse (you know you do it—as long as you give that person your undivided attention when it is required).

We writers never really turn it off, do we?

I think I’ve said it before: if you don’t know where you are going there is no way you will get there. Like an airplane flying without a destination, a writer without projects and goals will never accomplish anything. Agree?

So plan your strategy for the in-between time right now. Spring is coming…summer right after. What are YOU going to accomplish before that time? Let me know.

Hugs and love, and blessings on your work.

Follow your dreams…B.J.

What’s Going On:

B.J. Taylor domain name: Maybe you’ve noticed that my website is longer than just my name? It’s www.bjtayloronline.com. That’s because the name B.J. Taylor alone had been taken. A man had it “parked” which meant he had the rights to it as long as he paid the yearly fee for renewal. At the end of last year I hired a wonderful woman named April Michelle Davis from Editorial Inspirations to upgrade/update my website. She reached the owner of www.bjtaylor.com and negotiated for me to buy it. I’ll admit it wasn’t cheap. But I think it’s worth it. Look for the shorter, quicker-to-type version of my website name soon. And don’t worry if you don’t remember to switch, the old website with “online” in the name will rollover to the new one. Isn’t technology wonderful?

P MS to a T: the winning formula for writing nonfiction short stories that sell The manuscript is now in the hands of my book services guy and his wonderfully talented team from www.GeniusBookServices.com. They will format the book for print through Amazon and as an e-book available through the regular channels (Amazon, B&N, etc.). Here’s a sneak peek at the cover. What do you think?

Orange County Christian Writers Conference I cannot wait to see you at the conference. It runs Friday, April 24 from 5:30 to 9:30, and Saturday, April 25 from 8:00 to 5:00. Location: Trinity Presbyterian Church in Santa Ana, California. It’s going to be filled with opportunities to learn more about your craft. www.occwf.org

Northwest Christian Writers Renewal I’ll be doing something different: group appointments. I will meet with six attendees at a time for 30-minutes. You get to do a three-minute elevator pitch and then receive feedback. Sounds like fun! I’ll also be teaching Writing for the Guideposts Contest and Making $$$ Selling Inspirational Short Stories. Did you register yet? www.nwchristianwriters.org/renewal May 15-16, 2015 in Redmond Washington (near Seattle).

This review is from:Charlie Bear: What a Headstrong Rescue Dog Taught Me About Life, Love, and Second Chances (Paperback)

“Hon, do you think the day will come when we don’t have any pets?” B. J. Taylor asks her husband when they lose their second cat in a few months apart. His answer, “I don’t think so,” is probably common for all animal lovers and it isn’t surprising that soon they decided to add a small dog to the golden Lab, Rex, the only pet left at their home. What is surprising that while looking for a dog like a Yorkie they spot the photo of a young Shih Tzu/Terrier mix rescued from the street and both fell in love with his cute appearance and decided to give him a trial. Was this a right decision?

‘“I need a home and someone to love me.’ How could someone not love this dog?”

Charlie Bear is adorable, but has a lot of behavioral issues. B. J. and her husband are responsible pet owners concerned not only with animal rights but with proper animal behavior as well. Would B. J.’s place be a good home for Charlie Bear? Can he trust his new owners? Read the book to find it out. Short “Charlie’s monologues” are funny and provide an additional charming aspect to the story.”

American Pet Magazine runs a column written by me (ahem…Mom Peep) and it starts out like this:

I was found roaming the streets in Los Angeles, fending for myself with no one to care for me. If I’d been taken to a shelter, I would have never made it out because I had a bunch of issues: I threw temper tantrums, guarded my food and toys, and was sensitive to touch. So my rescuer took me to a foster home and from there I was adopted and found my forever home.

My column is on page 19 and continues with this intro: Charlie Bear is a 5-year-old muttigree who believes he won the lottery. No way could life have been predicted to turn out this good. In fact, his Mom Peep, B.J. Taylor, wrote the story of Charlie Bear’s first year in their lives. It’s an emotional, heart-tugging story that includes the big dog, Rex (Mom Peep’s forever love): Charlie Bear: What a Headstrong Rescue Dog Taught Me about Life, Love, and Second Chances

To read this new issue for enlightening facts and stories, click here: